Envelop-sealing machine.



, PATENTED APR; 26', 1904. J; L. HARRINGTON &- J. J. SGHERMAOK.

ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 29, 1903.

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No. 753,359. v PATENTED APR. 26, 1904.

' J. L. HARRINGTON & J. J. SGHERMACK.

ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED 11m. 29, 1903.

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Patented April 26, 1904. I

UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

JOSEPH L. HARRINGTON AND JOSEPH .J. SCHERMACK, OF CHICAGO, ILLI- NOIS, ASSIGNORS TO THEXTON ELECTRIC ENVELOPE'SEALER CO.', CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS,

ENVELOP- SEALING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATIONforming: part of Letters Patent 110,758,359, dated April as, 1964.

Application filed December 29, 1903. Serial No. 187,010. (No model.) i

To all whom, it may Concern;

Be it known that we, Josnrn L. HARRING- TON and J QSEPH J. SoHnRMAoK, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Envelopealing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to machines for auto matically sealing envelops.

Prominent objects of the invention are to provide a simple, practical, and inexpensive machine of this kind, to arrange for the effective sealing of the envelope, to secure this result irrespective of the size of the inclo'sure therein, to arrange for the easyand ready feeding of theenvelops, and especially to provide a machine which can be manuallyloperated and can be constructed at such a low expense as to make it available in comparatively small houses orestablishments which would not be justified in purchasing an expensive machine of this kind.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a front elevation of an envelop-stealingma chine embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on line 2 2 in'Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine with certain parts removed for convenience of illustration. Fig. 4 is a section taken on lines 4 4 in Figs. 3 and 5. Fig. 5 is a section taken'on line 5 5 in Fig. 4. I

The machine is provided with a body frame A, consisting, essentially, ofahorizontal platform 1, provided with legs 2 2. The platform 1 is constructed with a back wall 3 at its left-hand portion and depending or overhanging portions 4 4 at its right-hand end, Figs. 1 and 2, and it is provided with an opening or aperture 5 near said right-hand end, as shown in Fig. 3.

A hood 6 is fixedly secured to aplatform 1, the hood 6 having a portion 7 fitting against and secured to the back overhang 4, as 'well shown in Fig. 2. A pair of feed-rolls 8 and 9 are provided-the upper roll 9 being ar-.

ranged-in and at the left-hand end of the hood 6 and the lower roll '8 being below the roll 9 and at the left-hand end ofthe aperture 5 in the platforml. Thelower roll Sis mounted on the shaft 10, journaled'in the overhangs 4 4 of the platform 1. The upper roll 9 is mounted on a shaft 11, which-is carried by journal bo'x-e's' 12 12'. These boxes 12 12 work in guidewaysformed by vertical guides 13 13, provided on the hood 6, and they are sus pended by springs 14 14, which are supported by and subject to adjusting-screws 15 15, pass ing through the top of the hood 6. A pair of sealing-rolls 16 17 is arranged to the right of the feed-rollsS and 9, the upper sealingroll 16 being arranged in and at the righthand end of the hood 6 and the lower roll'17 being below the roll 16 and in the righthand end of the aperture 5 in the platform 1.

'18, and this shaft and the shaft 10.for the lower feed roll 8 are geared together by means of a sprocket-chain 21,traveling over sprocket wheels on said shafts.

It will be seen on re-' ferring especially to Figs. 2 and 3 that the feed-rolls 8 and 9 are comparatively narrow and are arranged atthe forwardthat is, the

nearends of the shafts 10 and 11, whereas the sealing-rolls 16 and 17 are materially of their shafts.

A flap depressor or closer 22 is arranged in" It is mounted by beingpivotally supported at its forward end by apivot 24, attached to a bracket 25 on the hood 6. A plate 27 isar-, ranged over the rear portion of the platform 1, the platform being slightly cut away, be-

ginning at the line 28, to permit the plate 27 to be flush with the upper surface of the platwider and are mounted at the rear or far ends 5 fornn This plate 27 is cut away at 29 to allow room for the lower feed-roll 8 and has a tail portion 30, which extends backwardly to posed ribs 34 34, between which are located apertures 33 35, and having at one end an overhang 36 and at the other an inclined tailpiece 38.

terminates in the tailpiece 38. One side of the top 31 is constructed with a lip 31, Figs.

1 and 3. The wick retaining piece 32 is constructed with three substantially parallel prongs 39, 40, and 41, terminating in a flat lateral flange 42. The bottom piece 33 is constructed with a body portion having two upwardly projecting longitudinally extending ribs 43 43, terminating in a flange 44, which is adapted to fit against the inner face of the front overhang 36 of the top 31. The moistening d evice thus constructed is provided with a wick 45,which is arranged with an end portion 46 between the wick-retainer 32 and bottom 33 in such a manner that the prongs 39, 40, and 41 of the piece 32, fitting as they do betweenthe ribs 43 43 of the bottom 33, cause the Wick to assume an undulating appearance or shape, as shown in Fig. The rib 37 on the piece 31 extends down into the space between the two undulations of the wick, as shown in said figure, and a small space remains between the top of said piece 31 and the upper surface of the wick. vThis space .is open at both sides,

(referring to Fig. 5,) and an inclined surface 33 on the bottom 33 forms an inclined approach to it. From between the retainer 32 and bottom 33 the wick extends upwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, between the flange 42 and the overhang .36 and thence backw'ardlyover the upper surface of the top 31, as shown in Figs.

4 and 5, and thence downwardly outside of the tailpiece 38. The moistening device is secured in position by a screw 47 passing through the tailpiece 38 and into the back overhang 4 of the platform 1. Screws 48 and 49 pass through the overhang 36' of the top 31 and engage the flange 42 of the bottom 33, acting to hold the latter in position. The screw 48 is a thumbscrew and can be unscrewed so as to be disengaged from the bottom 33. The screw 49 is adapted to serve as a pivot, so as to permit the bottom 33 to swing downwardly when released from the screw 48. The retainer 32 is fitted or wedged between the top 31 and the bottom The top 31 also has a downwardly-pro jecting longitudinally-extending rib 37, which.

33, the flange 42 coming into position with its upper edge against the lower side of the top 31, as well shown in Fig. 5. The retainer is thus held in position by the engagement of its prongs with the wick 45, and the latter is in turn held in position by the retainer.

' A tank or reservoir 50 isarranged above the moistening device B, being conveniently supported upon an arm or bracket 51, secured to the hood 6. This tank 50 has a faucet or outlet 52,.located above that portion of the wick 45 which extends across the top of the moistening device. A second tank or reservoir 53 is arranged below the moistening device B, being conveniently supported by a downwardly-extending bracket 54, conveniently made integral with the platform 1. These two tanks or reservoirs 50 and 53 are supplied with the liquid, usually water, which is to moisten the wick of the moistening device, and this wick is extended downwardly from the moistening device into the lower tank 53, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, where its lower portion is immersed.

An adjustable guide 55 is arranged upon the left-hand portion of the plate 27 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This'guide has a curved. edge 56 and a slotted arm 57, the slot of which receives a screw 58, which passes through a shelf or bracket 59, secured to the platform 1, so as to hold said guide in position.

The operation of the machine is as follows: i

The envelope containing the inclosures and ready to be sealed are placed upon the platform 1, conveniently arranged in a pile at the lefthand end thereof. The stop-cock 52 of the tank 50 is turned so as to allow liquid to drip slowly from the tank onto the exposed portion of the wick of the moistening device. The guide 55 is adjusted to accommodate the width of envelops to be sealed. The handle 20 is then rotated continuously by the right hand, and the envelops are fed one by one by the left hand along the platform 1 and into the machine, the operator standing in front of and facing the machine as it appears in Fig. 1. As each envelop passes along its flap enters the moistening device B and its front end-is engaged by the feed-rolls 8 and 9, so that the latter continue to advance the envelop as they revolve. The flap passes through the space under the top 31 of the moistening device and above the undulating portion of the wick 45, as shown in Fig. 5, the flap being of course slightly bent in passing between theundulations of the wick and below the rib 37 The lower or gurnmed portion of the flap thereby comes in contact with the wick of the moistening device and becomes moistened, the bending to which the flap is subjected insuring a firm and thorough contact with the wick and a consequent thorough moistening of the gum. As the flap leaves the moistening device it passes under the lip 31 thereof and is bent partially down. As it continues its movement it passes under the flap-closer 22, which gradually but efi ect ively bends or pushes it downwardly toward the body of the envelop, the latter at this time passing along the tailpiece 30 of the plate 27. The envelop with its flap-substantially closed then passes between the sealing-rolls 16 and 17, Where it is etlectually sealed.

The liquid constantlydripping on the moistening device keeps the wick properly moist for the sealing of the envelops one after anthe screw 4:9 as a pivot or by unscrewing both the screws48 and 49 and removing the retainer 32 and bottom 33 bodily. The moistening device can be bodily removed, if wished,

-by removing the screw 47.

It will be seen that the machine thusjdescribed has many advantages, among which may be mentioned the following:

First, extreme simplicity, with the result that it is very inexpensive to construct and maintain. I I

Second, effective, thorough, and proper moistening of the gum on the envelop-flap.

This is due to the-construction of the mois' toning device by which the flap ispressed against the wick and then partially closed and by which also the portion of the wick against which the flap pressesis kept. uniformly moist and prevented from becoming unduly wet. The surplus liquid,.if any, accumulates, running off the top of the wickinto the reservoir 53 and the wick extending down into the lower reservoir and beingpartially immersed therein serving to keep the wick always-moist.

Third, accommodation of envelops varying greatlyin thicknesses because of differentsized inclosures. This is due largely to the construction and arrangement-1.01 the flapcloser 22 in connection with the sligh tly-yielding bed provided by the tailpiece 30. I Y Fourth, the machine can be operated by hand, thus saving-the cost of. mechanical-orv electrical power, and at the same time great speed can be secnred,-as envelops can be fed in very rapid succession along the platform 1 by the left hand while the handle is being turned by the right hand.

It will be understood that although this machine is shown as a manually-operated na-- chine the various features of improvement can-beembodied in a power-driven machine as well. We do not, therefore, wish, to confine ourselves, so far as the principles of construction and operation are concerned, to a manually-driven machine; nor do we wish to be understood as confining ourselves to the precise arrangement herein set forth, as changes and modifications can obviously be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. What we claim is x 1. In an envelop-sealer, a mois'tening device having a wick, and an independent tank or reservoir mounted above the level of the wick and provided with means for permitting the liquid to drop on said wick, substantially as described.

2. In adevice of the class specified, the combination of a tank or reservoir, a moistening device having a wick adapted to receive liquid from said tank or reservoinand a second tank or reservoir located substantially below the moistening device, the wick from the latter being extended down to said second-mentioned tank or reservoir, substantially as described. 3. In a device of the class specified,;a moistening device havingseparated and elevated moisteningsurfaces,and means for pressing the article to be moistened into the space between said su rfaces, substantially as described at. In a device of the classspecified, amoistening device whose moistening-pad has an undulating or irregular surface and an abutment projecting into the space between the undu- 'lations' or irregularities of said surface, substantially as-described.

5. In a deviceof the class specified, a mois- 9 tening device having a moistening-pad, said moisteningdevice being provided with'means for depressing the'surface of the moisteningpad at intervals, and being also constructed with an abutment projecting into said depression in said pad, substantially as described.

6. In a device of theclass specitied, a moistening device comprising a moisteni'ng-pad,"

means for holding the same and engaging the edges thereof, means for holding a portion of the pad between its edges in a depressed position, means for supporting the intermediate portionsof the pad in an elevated position,

and a cover or top having a rib projecting into the space between said-elevated portions, substantially as described. I

7. In a device of the class specified, a moistening device comprising a bottom having elevated ribs at intervals from one another, a retainer having longitudinally extending prongs arranged lengthwise of said ribs, one of said prongs being between saidribsand the others outside thereof, a wick engaged by the ribs-on the bottom and also by said prongs so that the outer edges of the wick are held depressed by, the outer prongs and the'niiddle portion of the wick is held depressed by the middle prong,"the intermediate portions, of

' the wick being held'in an elevated position by said ribs, and a cover having a rib arranged V lengthwise of and-above. said middle prong, whereby it PI'OJBCiLS into the space betweenthe' elevated portions of the wick, substantially as described.

8. In a device of the class specified, a mois tening device comprising a bottom or base piece 33 having longitudinally-extending ribs 43, 43, a wick-retainer 32 having prongs 39, and 41, a top 31 having adepending rib or projection 37, and means for detachably holding the said parts together, substantially as described.

9. In a device of the class specified, a moistening device comprising a base or bottom 33 having ribs 43, 43, a wick-retainer 32 having prongs 39, 40 and 41, a wick engaged by the prongs of said retainer 32, a top piece 31 having a rib 37 above the central prong 40, and screws 48 and 49 for detachably holding the pieces 33 and 31 together, the retainer 32 being provided with a flange 42 whereby its prongs are held in engagement with thewick, substantially as described.

10. In a device of the class specified, a moistening device having a moistening-pad and an abutment arranged opposite the same for pressing the article to be moistened against the pad, said pad having an exposed extension, and a tank or reservoir mounted above the level of said extension and adapted to supply the same with liquid, substantially as de-' scribed.

11. In a device of the class specified, a moistening device .comprising bottom and top pieces, a moistening-pad arranged between the same, and an extension of said pad above said top piece, substantially as described.

12. In a device of the class specified, a moistening device comprising bottom and top pieces, a moistening-pad arranged between the same, an extension of said pad above said top piece, and means for supplying said ex tension with liquid, substantially as described.

13. In a device of the class specified, a moistening device comprising a moisteningbox containing a wick, saidbox having side apertures through which the article to be mois-.

tened can pass and also having its top provided with apertures, and an extension of said wick arranged across the top, substantially as described.

14. In a device of the class specified, a mois tened can pass and also having its top provided with apertures, an extension -of said wick arranged across the top, and a tank or reservoir arranged to supply liquid to said wick extension, substantially as described.

15. In a device of the class specified, a moistening device comprising a box having openings through which the article to be moistened can pass, a wick arranged within said box, said wick having an undulating or irregular surface and the top of the box being provided with a projection extending into the space between the undulations or irregularities of the wick, an extension for said wick extended across the top of the box, and atank or reservoir arranged to supply liquid to said extension, substantially as described.

16. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a moistening device provided with a wick having an extension, and a tank or reservoir to which said extension is extended and in which a portion of the same is confined, substantially as described.

17 In a device of the class specified,-a moistening device provided with a wick having an extension, a portion of which is exposed, and a couple of tanks or reservoirs one arranged above the general level of the moistening device and adapted to supply liquidthereto and the other arranged below the moistening device, the said extension of the wick being extended to said second tank or reservoir, and a portion of the same confined therein, substantially as described.

18. 'In a device of the class specified, a moistening device comprising a box having openings in its sides for the entry and exit of the article to be moistened, and also having a wick inclosed by the walls and top of the box and located between said side openings.

19. In a device of the class specified, a moistening device comprising a box having openings in its sides for the entry and exit of the article to be moistened, and also having a wick inclosed by the walls and top of the box and located between said side openings, and means on the top of the box for pressing said article against the wick.

20. In a device of the class specified, a moistening device having an' inclined section of wick adapted to receive liquid, and another portion of wick to be used for moistening purposes connected With the first-mentioned por. tion at the upper end thereof, whereby the surplus liquid will run away from the moistening portion.

21. In a device of the class specified, a moistening device having a lip 31*. q

22. In a device of the class specified, a moistening device comprising a box consisting of pieces 31, 32 and 33 whereof the piece 31 is provided with apertures 35, ribs 34, 34, and 37, and a tailpiece 38 and the piece 32 is constructed with a flange 42 and prongs 39, 40 and 41, and the piece 33 is constructed with ribs 43, 43 and a flange 44, screws 48 and 49 JOSEPH L. HARRINGTON. JOSEPH J. SCHERMACK.

Witnesses:

A. MILLER BELFIELD, I. C. LEE. 

